1 - 10

Kyle Zurevinski is a student from the University of Saskatchewan who specializes in fine art photography. Featuring two key elements of abstraction and minimalism, his photography conveys an emotional response rather than depicting an identifiable setting. In his free time he co-hosts a movie Podcast called "The Second Viewing", which takes a look at movies a second time to see if they still hold their initial responses. His post-graduate show is happening tonight over at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, which highlights his take on the still and abstract spaces of everyday life.

I am curious about the titles of your photo series. Can you tell me about them?

The titles of my photo series have always been a bit of a mixed bag, some have just been made on the spur of the moment, and others have been integral to the work. My series “INSTANTanous” was quite honestly a horrible play on words since the series involved instant film, while “vVIBEZz” was named to describe the importance of getting an emotional reaction and feeling while viewing the images.

That being said, my latest work and series “Still Space” is named so with actual intent. The series is meant to place importance on found spaces and how the chosen images that I’m presenting can be broken down into stillness and unsettlement. The images are to confuse the viewer while bringing in an atmosphere of calmness and absurdity. While all said and done the images are simply still spaces.

How important is abstraction in fine art photography?

Fine art in general is a widely complex and multi-faceted realm, understanding it completely seems like an undoable task. I do think that art in general is about telling stories and bringing people together. Abstraction may seem like a reaction to this, but more or less I think its about engagement and creating a visual dialogue with the artists and the viewer. Abstraction in photography is important because it’s taking a look at the documentary nature of photography and flipping the script on what is expected from the medium. Abstraction is very punk rock in my opinion.

Who are your artistic influences?

I’ve always looked at my work as a chance to use the lens as tool to paint images expressed with the intent to evoke emotion and a reaction. Because of this I have always looked towards to work of Mark Rothko as a body of work that stepped outside the current boundaries of what contemporary painters were working with, and apply that to my own work where I’m taking a photograph and manipulating it to its most finite or basic state. James Turrell is another artist who I find greatly influential, especially in the way that he uses the space as a tool to create beautiful atmospheres within them.

What do you want to say about your artistic endeavours so far?

I’ve been fortunate enough to surrounded by great people, and to have made some amazing friends within the artistic community in Saskatoon. This is how I’ve been able to stay motivated to keep working and to keep putting out as much work as I can.

What's integral to the work you produce?

I’m always trying to find a new method or reason to produce a new body of work. In doing this I often look to older forms of technology or photographic processes as a chance to put some new life into whatever I’m working on. I love instant film, I’ve been collecting old Polaroid camera’s since I was young, and I really hope to continue working with the medium in the future.

Kyle's photography exhibition show is having it's closing reception tonight at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery. Check out his latest grad-work and come meet the artist.

His work can be seen on his website and you can follow him on Instagram @kylezur